Oceana and Blancpain Announce Exclusive Partnership
Prestige Swiss watchmaker supports ocean conservation group’s advocacy efforts to restore marine ecosystems. This three-year partnership includes an expedition to Mexico’s Scorpion Reef, a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Oceana, the largest international organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation, has announced Blancpain as its exclusive watch partner, working together to further Oceana’s campaigns to restore ocean abundance and Blancpain’s commitment to ocean exploration and conservation.
As part of the partnership, Oceana and Blancpain will lead an expedition in the summer of 2021 to Arrecife Alacranes (Scorpion Reef), the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico. It has been designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve and the Mexican government established it as a National Park, home to more than 500 species of fish and 34 species of coral. A recent study identified Arrecife Alacranes as a reef that is healthy and diverse enough to have a better chance at surviving the effects of climate change.
Despite the reef’s current biodiversity and resiliency, there are very few rules in place to protect the habitat from destructive fishing. During the expedition, Oceana and Blancpain will document the reef and marine life present with underwater photos and video and cutting-edge science, including eDNA analysis and 3D photomosaic modeling. Oceana will then use these findings to campaign for the Mexican government to provide further protections for the reef.
Oceana announced its partnership with Blancpain at Oceana’s annual New York Gala that raised more than $1.2 million for ocean conservation. As an Atlantic Ocean sponsor of the event, Blancpain donated their Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III watch for private auction.
